Improvement in quicksilver-furnaces



"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoE.

sYLvEsTER CHARLES, or HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN"QUlCK'SlLVER-FU RNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent 0 186,5 i2,"dated January 23,1877; application filed July 19. 1876.

State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces forthe Reduction of the Ores of Quicksilver and other metals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i l

The same letters and figuresof reference are used to indicate the corresponding parts.

After describing the invention, its nature and extent will be shown in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a furnace for reducing quicksilver and other ores. Among the new features of my invention may be mentioned the teeth which revolve horizontally in annular grooves or channels in the ore-chamber. These teeth disintegrate the ore and thus bring the heat in direct contact with every particle of the cinnabar or other ore, and in this manner the quicksilver or other ore is vaporized and driven to the condensers.

The chamber forthe refuse ore is provided with a device by which it discharges itselfautomatically.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the center. Fig. 2 is also a sectional view, showing the hopper by which the furnace is fed with the ore. Fig. 2-5 is a view of the bot tom of the rotary disk. Fig. 4 is a top view of the receiving-chamber andFig. 5 is a side view of the top of the furnace. l

A isthe body of the furnace; B, the rotary disk; and (J, the receiving-chamber for the ore. Kis the hopper which feeds the ore to the furnace. D D are two uprights fastened to the side of the furnace, across the top of which is placed the cross piece D. Passing through the center of the cross-piece D the shaft to is rigidly fastened to the disk B. At the top of the shaft n is fastened the wheel E, which engages with the shaft F and handle G. The disk B is provided with a flange, m,

on its periphery, which projects slightly above and below the disk itself. a, a are recesses or depressions in the disk B. The disk Bis also provided with a lining, forming the air-chamber e, and itis further provided with the teeth l s to thegroove l and la is an opening through which the ore passes from the groove 6 to the chamber H for refuse ore. o is the orifice through which the mercurial orother vapor Y passes through the pipe I to the condenser; and 10 is an outlet from the refuse-chamber H fectually keeps the mercurial or other vapor from passing out of the hopper and forces it down into the condenser-pipe I.

When my invention is in operation 1 place the ore in the hopper K, while the shaft is moved by hand or other power. This causes the disk B to revolve, carrying the teeth b b in the groovess and lof the chamber 0. This motion of the teeth disiutegrates the ore, and is one of the chief advantages of my invention. In the reduction of the ore the latter is usually disintegrated in some Way before it is placed in the ore-chamber. This, in practice, is a distinct and independent operation, and must be performed before the ore is placed in the furnace for smelting. In my furnace it is shown that both the disintegration and smelting are performed by one operation.

Through the opening is the ore passes into the groove Z, and from thence through the opening kinto the refuse-chamber H. When the chamber H becomes so full that the weight of the refuse exceeds that of the weight it at the end of the lever g the refuse drops out -peculiarly-shaped apertures of the furnace,

and finally passing out of the smoke -pipe. The peculiar shape of the tines in my furnace prevents the lodgment of any ashes or soot to clog them up. All the ashes and other smoke-exit fall back into the fire-pot.

joint is made between the disk B and the receiving-chamher G. The depressions or recesses a a. being filled with water, serve to keep the disk B from being heated. Th'eteeth b b are firmly screwed tothe; bottom of the depressions or recesses a a, which, being filled with water, keep the teeth comparatively cool.

Some of the advantages of my invention are that the rotary shaft n is removed from the fire and will not twist off. The ore does not-need to be pulverized, asin furnaces now in use. My furnace pulvIerizes as well as roasts the ore. The metallic vapor does not pass over cold ore, and thus produce premature condensation. The the is directly applied to the ore-chamber, passing underand around it. The dues and fire-walls being very steep, all the ashes and debris slide down into the ashbox. As the fire pas'sesaround the'ore-cham-' her there is no premature condensation therein. My furnace may be fed without intermission. 7

Having now described my invention, and

pointed out some of'its chief I advantages, what I claim, and desire to secure. by Letters Patthe purposes set forth.

3. The ore-chamber'O, provided with the annular grooves s and Z, the openings 70 k, and a raised circular disk, depressed in the center to form a concave basin, in thece'nter of which is the exit 0, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4 The disk B, provided with the shaft n, depressionsa a, beneath the floor of which are screwed the teeth b b, and the flange m, in combination with the ore-chamber 0, provided with the grooves s and l, openings k and k, and the refuse-chamber H, exit 19, and weighted lever 9, provided with the dischargiug-cone f, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the" foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of May, 1876. p

I SYLVESTER CHARLES. Witnesses:

E. L. WHIPPLE, L. S. NORTON. 

